Washing machine



Patented Aug. 11, 1936 Application some 29, 1932, Serial No. 630,783 Renewed January 6, 1934 20 Claims. (9]. 88-37) v The principal objects of this invention are to devise a novel form of washing apparatus whereby the clothes are first turned or tumbled by the action of the water and then the washing water is forced through the fabrics in alternating arrangement to eifect a thorough cleansing of the entire fabric without contact with moving mechanical parts. v

A further object is to provide a simple and of fec'tive manner of separating the water from the clothes by compression in such a. manner as to avoid the tearing of delicate fabrics.

The principal features bf. the invention consist I in the novelconstruction of a washing compartment surrounding a pressure chamber whereby the water is directed laterally from the pressure chamber beneath the clothes to effect a tumbling action thereof and the water is drawn'back into the pressure chamber through a perforated sup-.

port extending acrdssthe bottom of the washing chamber. v i i A further and important feature of the invention consists in the novel arrangement of a perforated water-discharging head on the pressure chamber and the flexible construction of a pressure member whereby a uniform pressureis applied to the'clothes to'discharge the water therefrom. I A still iurther and importantfeature of this invention consists in the novel arrangement of aplunger-operated pressure member whereby a reciprocating action is applied byfluid pres;

sure at variable with this invention. 7 On reference to the accompanyingdrawing; the base I, preferably formed of cast metal, is of substantially circular form supported upon suita- 40 ble casterwh'eels 2.

A 'tubular standardj here shown formed ofa length of pipe, is rigidly'secured in a fluid tight I Joint to the base, a threaded boss {being formed centrally of the base. .45 A tubularjextension is-secured in the upper end of the standard and has mounted therein a closure block 6 in which a packing gland 1 is .mountedr; F j

Apiston 8, operates within the cylinder formed 60 by the standard {and the rod 9 thereof extends 'throughthegland 'I. g

A fluid pressure pump III of a suitable design, preferably of a rotary type, is connected by con- .duits ll and I! to the top and bottom respectively 55 of the cylinder and a pressure pump l3, also preferably of the rotary type, is connected by conduits II and I5, respectively, to the conduits H and I2. 1 The pump I0 is of very much greater capacity than the pump i3 and is adapted to operate the piston within the cylinder at a much faster rate of speed than the pump l3.

It will of course be understood that/the pumps 10 an I! may be'of the reversible type in which case, y operating first in one direction and then in the other, the desired reciprocating movement 10 may be imparted to the piston 8 and its associated elements, or any well known type of valve control means may be provided which will be. operativelyiconnected with the piston 8, and operate in timed sequence therewith for directing 15" the pressure of the pumped fluid first to one end of the cylinder 3 and then to the other.

It is old and well known to direct fluid pressure to a. cylinder to cause a piston therein to be reciprocated and the specific means for accomo plishing this forms 'no part of the present invention and need not be described herein. the elements in and I3 being indicative diagrammatically of such a means.

A suitable arrangement of clutch mechanism 25 I i is'provided to connect either one or other of the punips l0 and I3 to a central operating member II which is here shown gear connected to an electric motor r This clutch mechanism is not described in de- 30 tail as the form shown is merely diagrammatic and may be altered considerably without hearing V upon the invention. The drawing is a part vertical section and part elevation of a machine constructed in accordance A centre plate is isprovided with a boss 20 vided with a packing gland 2I- surrounding the piston rod 9 which extends above the member I9.

I A tub 22, preferably formed in' a single. piece of spun metal, is mounted upon the centre plate I! and extends outwardly therefrom with an annular depressed bottom portion 23.-

A cylinder 24 is rigidly secured on top of the centre plate 19 being mounted upon lugs 25 which space the bottom end of the cylinder above the portion of the'tub covering the centre plate,

thus forming a substantially annular port 26.

' Mounted upon the upper end of the piston rod 9 is a piston 21 which operates in the cylinder 24.

The piston 21 is of a cylindrical form open at the top and within it is arranged arflexible rubber casing 28 which is.-seal ed and contains a substantially non-compressible fluid such as water,

which however. is displaceable within its rubber container from one area another -That 5o ,top thereof, the rubber water-filled cushion will readily ,conform to the shape of the surface applied.

Within the bottom portion of the tub 22 is arranged an annular metal sheet 29 which is slightly dished but retains the position above the depressed bottom 23.

The area of the annular plate 29 is perforated with a plurality of holes 30. The inner portion of the plate 29 is turned upwardly and formed with a plurality of slots 3! which thus form a. grid arranged opposite to the port 26 so that water discharged laterally from the port will flow readily therethrough over the top surface of the plate 26.

The upper end of the cylinder 24 is provided with a cover 32 which is here shown threaded thereon and this cover is provided with a plurality of transverse channels 33 and a perforated sheet 34 is arranged on the inner side. The channels 33 are connected to a discharge 35 which is here shown in the form of a nozzle towhich a hose may be connected so that the water discharged therethrough may be carried clear of the tub, or it may be allowed to discharge into the tub as may be desired.

A nozzle 36 is provided on the top of the cover and has a passage 3! therethrough which is directed angularly downward toward the side wall of the cylinder so that rinsing water may be directed into the cylinder. i

A cover 28, which extends over the top of the cylinder, is arranged to rest upon the rubberring '36 mounted on the rim of the tub 22.

In the operation ofthis machine the desired washing fluid is placed within the tub and flows through the port 26 into the bottom of the cylinder as well as filling the tub. The clothes are placed into the tub and upon the starting of the motor, the pump l 0 is operated to reciprocate the piston in the cylinder of the standard. This moves the upper piston 21 in the cylinder 24.

The suction of the upstroke of the piston 2! draws water through the ports 26 and causes the water in the tubto flow through the slots 3| and the perforations'in the annular plate, consequently the water is drawn through the fabric of the clothes which are thus drawn downwardly against the plate.

Upon the reverse movement of the piston through a suitable reversing @mechanism, which is not shown, the piston 21 forces the water which has been drawn into the cylinder 24 in a lateral sheet out through the ports 26, and the water thus expelled from the cylinder flows through the slots 2| in the plate 29 having the effect of tumbling the clothes about within the tub and forcing the water upwardly therethrough.

Upon the reversal of the movement of the piston the water is again sucked in through the port 26 and drawn again through the fabric. This action is continued for the desired length of time alternately tumbling the clothes about under the expellingpressureof the washing fluid and then sucking it back in a downward direction through the fabric and through theholes in the plate 29. The peculiar arrangement of the perforated plate'26 with the substantially free passage permitted to the lateral flow of water from the'ports 26, permits this alternate tumbling and sucking downward of the water by reason of the offset in the bottom formed by the depression 23.

' It is found in practice that thiswashing action,

is very effective and the finest of fabrics will not be injured.

When the clothes have been washed the cover 38 is removed as also is the cover 32 of the cylinder 24, and the clothes are transferred from the washing chamber into the top of the cylinder. The cover 32 is then placed in'position and the pump I3 is then placed in operation by means of the clutch mechanism. This pump moves the plunger slowly upward and a compres- 1 sion is applied by the piston 21, forcing the clothes up. against the perforated sheet 34 of the cover and the water is expelled through the channel 33 and the nozzle 35.

It is understood of course that the clothes in 1 being placed in the cylinder 24 will be thicker in some places than in others, consequently the flexible rubber top of the piston permits an equal distribution of the pressure being applied to the clothes. 1 20 parting from the spirit of this invention. 30

What I claim as my invention is:--

1. A washing machine comprising a tub, 8. cyliri'der arranged within the tub having ports discharging laterally above the bottom of the tub,

a perforated fixed screen arranged above the bot- 35 .tom of the tub and substantially below the line of discharge from said ports, and a piston in said cylinder adapted to be reciprocated to force water laterally outward through said ports over said perforated screen and to; draw the water downwardly through the screen. 2. A washing machine, comprising a tub hav ing the bottom formed with a raised central portion, a cylinder mounted on said raised central portion and extending upwardly into the tub having ports at the bottom discharging later-' ally outward above the bottom of the tub, a perforated fixed plate spaced above the bottom of the tub and substantially in alignment with the raised central portion, and a piston operating in I said cylinder and adapted to be reclprocated to force water laterally outward through said ports over the top of the perforated plate and to draw water inwardly from the space in the tub below said plate.

3. A washing machine, comprising a circular tub having the bottom formed with a raised center and a depressed annular portion curving nular portion of the tub surrounding the raised center portion and having an upturned inner portion formed with a plurality of slots, a cylinder mounted upon "the raised central portion of the tub and spaced -thereabove forming an annular 6 port raised to discharge water laterally through the slots in the aforesaid plate and over the perforated portion of the plate, a piston in said cylinder adapted to be reciprocated to draw water through said port and to expel water there- 7 through, a cylinder'arranged below the tub, and a piston in said cylinder having a rod connected with the aforesaid piston, said latter piston being adapted to be reciprocated' in its cylinder by fluid pressure. 7

4. A washing machine, comprising a tub, a

- cylinder arranged in said tub having a discharge port at" the bottom. opening into the interior of the tub, a water-tight cover for said cylinder having channels in its interior communicating with the cylinder interior and leading to a discharge opening, a reciprocable piston operating in said cylinder to transfer cleansing fluid through said port between the cylinder and tub interiors, and

means for applying pressure to said piston to compress materials against said cover at the upperend and displace water from the material into the said channels in the cover. i

5. A washing machine, comprising a tub, a cylinder arranged within said tub having ports at the bottom thereof communicating with the interior of the tub, a cover sealing the top of said cylinder having channels therein communicating with a, discharge, a perforated sheet covering said channels on the inner side of said cover and through which said channels communicate with the cylinder interior, a piston operating in said cylinder to compress materials against said perforated cover, and means for effecting said operation of the piston, said piston being operable with a back and forth reciprocating movement to force fluid in a cleansing action back and forth through said ports between the cylinder and tub interiors. i i

6. A washing machine, comprising a tub having a raised central portion, into the underside of said raised central portion, a standard supporting said rigid plate and having a cylindrical bore therein, a piston operating in saidbore and having a rod extending through said central plate, means for pressure operating said piston, a piston mounted on the rod of the aforesaid piston and disposed withinthe tub, a cylinder secured to the raised portion'of said tub and encircling the latter. piston, anda perforated cover for the cylinder within the tub. f

7. A washing machine, comprising a tub, is

cylinder mounted centrally within said tub, a standard supporting said tub centrally; a piston operating in said cylinder having a hollowed oi a flexible sealed rubber container arranged in the hollow top of said piston and containing a noncompressible fluid, means for operating said piston, and a perforated cover enclosing said cylin-' der. 8. A washing machine, comprising a circular a tubular standard mountedvo'n said base and forming a pressure cylinder, 9, piston recipro operating within the upper cylinder, a piston rod rigidly connecting said pistons, and a closure for cable in said pressure cylinder, a vertical pressure pump connected with the opposite ends of'said pressure cylindep'adapted .todirect fluid pressure alternately to the respective ends of the cylinder to impart a reciprocating motion to said piston, means for operating said pump, a tub mounted on the standard, a cylinder arranged centrally within said tub and having ports at the bottom opening outwardly therefrom into said tubpa piston the cylinder within the tub. 9. A washing'machine as claimed in claim 7 in which the perforated underside of said cylin-q der cover is concaved and the flexiblesealed rubber container presents a diaphragm-like upper wall normally .convexed to conform to the curvature of the underside'of the perforated. cover.

"' 10. A washing machine as claimed in claim 5 in which the cover discharge opening is of tubular form and adapted toreceive a hose to direct -The a rigid plate fltted horizontal direction into, engagement with and through said ports.

water forced into the cover channels clear of the wash tub interior. I

11. A washing machine as claimed in claim 5 in which said cover is provided with a water inlet extending therethroughfor directing fresh rins- 5 ing water. into the cylinder above the piston therein.

12. 'A washing machine as claimed in claim 5 in which a nozzle passage extends through said cover at an angle to the cylinder wall to direct a clean stream of rinsing water to impinge angularly against the cylinder wall above the piston whereby it exerts a turning influence to the materials in the cylinder.

13. A method of cleaning fabrics in a. body of liquid, consisting in alternately forcibly projecting a quantity of cleaning fluid horizontally to, I flow in physical contact with the underside of a body of fabrics producing a tumbling movement of the fabrics, and then forcibly drawing the 20 cleaning fluid downwardly through the fabrics.

14. A method of cleaning fabrics, consisting in immersing the fabrics in a cleaning fluid, then alternately forcibly drawing a portion of the fluid through the fabrics and violently, discharg ing the withdrawn fluid in a horizontal 'annulus to engage the under portion of the fabrics moving the same horizontally and imparting a tumbling movement to the entire body of fabrics.

15. A method of cleaning fabrics, consisting in positively driving an annular sheet of cleaning fluid through and under an immersed, body of fabrics, directing-the flow of said driven fluid upwardly aroundthe said body of fabrics, and withdrawing a quantity of the fluid through the fabrics after the driving impulse has ceased.

' 16. A method of cleaning fabricsconsisting in flrst applying a forceful impulse to a body of cleaning fluid, discharging it in a substantially under a body of fabrics, diverting the flow of the fluid'from its initial horizontal direction upwardly around the outer side of said body of fabrics to ultimately fall inwardly, over the fabrics, and after the initial impulse has ceased. drawing the fluid downwardly through the entire body of fabrics. v v 17. A washing machine comprising a tub, a cylinder having ports directing a lateral flow of fluid into the tub above the bottom thereof, a perforated screen arranged above the bottom of the tub and having a part substantially in line wlththe bottom of said ports, and a piston in said cylinder adapted to be operated to force the fluid outwardly from said ports and to draw the fluid downwardly through said screen.

- 18. A tub having a substantially annular port arranged centrally to direct the flow of fluid radially over the bottom, a pressure chamber con- ,nected with said port and having imperforate sidewalls, and means for drawing a cleansing -fluid through said port into the pressure chamber and discharging same through said port.

, 19. A washing machine comprising a tub havingthe bottom curving upwardly and outwardly be operated to force the cleaning fluid-outwardly from said .ports and to draw the fluid baclr squeeze fabrics enclosed in the top of the cylinder, and means for operating said piston in said cylinder at fast and slow speeds to accomplish the cleansing of the fabrics and the squeezing ,ot the liquid therefrom respectively.

ARTHUR A. BURRY, 

